The Evenstar

The Evenstar is the title borne by Selwyn Tarth, the Lord of Tarth, a large island in the narrow sea off the coast of the stormlands. Though he never appears as a viewpoint character or an active participant in the events of A Dance with Dragons, his name and title function as a signifier of noble standing, paternal authority, and the political weight of House Tarth. The Evenstar’s influence is mediated entirely through the reports and recollections of other characters, most notably his daughter Brienne, whose quest to find Sansa Stark is driven in part by the honor of her house and the expectations placed upon her as his heir.

Identity and Background

Selwyn Tarth is the Lord of Tarth and the Evenstar, a title unique to the rulers of that island. House Tarth is an ancient and proud house of the stormlands, sworn to Storm’s End, and its sigil is a sun-and-moon on a field of blue and white. The Evenstar’s seat is the castle of Evenfall Hall, which commands the island’s main harbor. Though Tarth is a relatively small and isolated domain, its lords have historically been known for their honor and their loyalty to the Baratheons of Storm’s End. Selwyn Tarth is described as a man of advanced years, and his only surviving legitimate child is Brienne, whom he has raised as his heir despite her unconventional appearance and martial inclinations. The Evenstar’s decision to send Brienne to serve Renly Baratheon as a member of his Rainbow Guard set her on the path that would lead her across the war-torn riverlands and into the service of Jaime Lannister.

Role in the Narrative

The Evenstar does not appear in any scene in A Dance with Dragons, but his name is invoked at key moments. When Jaime Lannister learns that Brienne has been seen in the riverlands, he is told that she is the Evenstar’s daughter, a detail that confirms her high birth and explains why she would be entrusted with a mission of such importance. Later, when Brienne arrives at Pennytree to find Jaime, she is still identified by her father’s title: she is the Evenstar’s daughter, the Maid of Tarth. This identification underscores that her identity is inseparable from her father’s house and that her actions reflect on his honor. The Evenstar’s name also appears in the context of the political maneuvering in King’s Landing, where Lord Selwyn Tarth is counted among the bannermen of Storm’s End who have not yet declared for any king, a position of cautious neutrality that mirrors the island’s geographic isolation.

Thematic Significance

The Evenstar functions as a symbol of the old order—a noble house that has survived for centuries by staying true to its oaths and avoiding the ruinous entanglements of the larger war. His absence from the narrative is itself meaningful: it suggests that the center of power in the stormlands has shifted away from the ancient houses and toward the upstart claimants and foreign invaders who now dominate the stage. The Evenstar’s title, which evokes the evening star that guides sailors home, also carries a thematic resonance of guidance and constancy in a world that has lost its bearings. For Brienne, her father’s name is both a burden and a beacon; she carries his honor into every fight, and her quest to find Sansa Stark is, in part, an attempt to prove herself worthy of the Evenstar’s trust. The title thus becomes a measure of the distance between the stable world of the past and the chaotic present, a reminder of what has been lost and what might still be saved.